If you are living in Mississippi and rely on Supplemental Security Income you might notice something different about your payment schedule this winter. You will not receive a check in the first week of January but there is absolutely no need to panic. The money that usually arrives in January is simply being sent to you a little bit earlier than usual.
This shift is happening because of the holiday schedule. The Social Security Administration has a specific rule for when payment dates fall on holidays. Since New Year’s Day is a federal holiday banks and government offices are closed. To ensure you have your money when you need it the government is sending the payments out before the holiday begins.
Table of Contents
Understanding the Double Payment in December
The Social Security Administration typically sends out SSI payments on the first day of every month. However whenever the first of the month falls on a weekend or a federal holiday the payment date is moved to the previous business day. This ensures that no one has to wait extra days to pay their bills just because of the calendar.
Because January 1, 2026 is New Year’s Day recipients will get their January check in December. This results in two separate deposits during the final month of the year. The first check arrived on December 1 for that month’s benefits. The second check will arrive on December 31 which counts as your payment for January.
The New Cost of Living Adjustment for 2026
There is good news coming with these payments. The checks sent for 2026 will be slightly larger than what you received in 2025. This is due to the Cost of Living Adjustment also known as COLA. This yearly increase helps people keep up with inflation and the rising price of goods.
Starting with the payment you receive on December 31 the 2.8% increase will officially go into effect. On average this means payments will go up by roughly $56 per month. This extra money is intended to help cover daily expenses like groceries and utilities which have become more expensive over the last year.
Important Dates for Your 2026 Calendar
The start of 2026 is going to be a bit unusual for payment dates. It is not just January that is affected. Several months in the first half of the year will see payments shifting away from the first of the month.
If you like to plan your budget ahead of time you should mark these dates down. April and May will follow the standard schedule but February, March, and June will all see payments arriving early. Being aware of these shifts helps you avoid the stress of thinking a check is missing when it actually arrived days before.
Key Takeaways for SSI Recipients
Here is a quick summary of what you need to remember about your upcoming payments:
- You will receive two separate checks in December.
- The second check arriving on December 31 is actually your January payment.
- The January check will include the new 2.8% COLA increase.
- No payment will be deposited during the first week of January 2026.
- You are not receiving a bonus payment only an early one.
2026 Payment Schedule Overview
The table below shows exactly when you can expect your money for the first half of the new year.
| Benefit Month | Scheduled Payment Date | Reason for Shift |
| January | December 31, 2025 | New Year’s Day Holiday |
| February | January 30, 2026 | Weekend Adjustment |
| March | February 27, 2026 | Weekend Adjustment |
| April | April 1, 2026 | Standard Schedule |
| May | May 1, 2026 | Standard Schedule |
| June | June 1, 2026 | Standard Schedule |
